Maharishi Panchakarma
Due to diet, environmental pollution, stress, fatigue and lifestyle choices, toxins build up in our cells and tissues. According to AyurVeda, these toxins, called Ama, are the basis of most disease.
Panchakarma consists of a series of purification therapies designed to remove toxic Ama from our cells and tissues. In doing so, it supports the
body’s self-healing mechanisms and helps promote good health.
Panchakarma involves a series of carefully coordinated purification procedures, given in a specific sequence, to gently but effectively release and remove deep-seated toxins.
Profound and long-lasting regeneration is the result. Your mind and body become more balanced, which naturally creates the basis for increased efficiency, vitality and zest for life.
Maharishi AyurVeda
Panchakarma Treatments
Panchakarma therapy is probably the quickest and most effective way to remove the widest range of toxins from your body. It consists of:
• Ayurvedic massages to soften up the cells and tissues, to help them expel accumulated toxins
• Heat treatments to open up the body channels and help move the toxic Ama into the circulatory system
• Nasal and intestinal cleansing treatments to fully expel toxins from the body, so they are not re-absorbed.
All the treatments can be integrated into longer therapy programmes. Most treatments are also available as single treatments. A ‘One Day Wonder’, which includes Abhyanga and Shirodhara, is a popular option. Please note that the descriptions of treatments and preparations from this page onwards are provided for interest, and in practice one would have a consultation with a Maharishi AyurVeda Practitioner in order to design the best programme for one’s individual needs
Synchronised full body massage using herbalised oils, performed by two Maharishi AyurVeda therapists. Abhyanga is normally given before other forms of Panchakarma treatment. As the oil penetrates your skin, it softens the cells and helps release toxins that accumulate in the tissues.
Udvartana is a stimulating and enlivening massage that reduces Kapha Dosha, promotes weight-loss, improves blood circulation, and cleanses the skin. Pastes made with coarsely ground flours, herbal powders and oils are used.
A synchronised deep muscle massage for those who perform sports or who take part in physical exercise or work. Stronger pressure and less oil are used than in Abhyanga. This massage profoundly relaxes the muscles and has a powerfully stimulating effect on circulation within the tissues.
This treatment combines a head, neck and shoulder massage with herbalised steam and purification procedures. It helps eliminate toxins from the sinuses and from the head and upper respiratory area. Besides clearing and calming the mind, Nasya is said to purify and detoxify the sense organs.
After a full head and face massage, treatment is applied to the eyes and surrounding tissues. It is recommended for eye strain, tired eyes, itchy eyes, bloodshot eyes and a range of other eye problems. The eyes are considered a Pitta or hot organ, and as Netra Tarpana helps balance Pitta Dosha, it also helps reduce anger. Netra Tarpana is said to promote one’s inner eye, or intuition.
During this luxurious royal treatment, two therapists pour a continuous stream of warm oil over your whole body, while also performing a synchronised massage. The combination of oil massage and heat treatment softens and releases deep-seated toxins and moves them out of the tissues ready for elimination. This massage is considered the best treatment for balancing Vata Dosha.
This highly invigorating massage promotes the flow of Prana, life-force, and is traditionally given to bring us into peak condition. Enhancing one’s energy, strength and vitality, Uzhichil is a vigorous massage and is highly recommended for those preparing for competition.
Swedana normally follows on from a full body massage. Once the toxins are softened and released by massage, herbalised steam is applied within a wooden cabinet in which your whole body, apart from your head, is enclosed. This heat treatment opens up the body channels and helps move toxins out of the tissues ready for elimination. Swedana is particularly useful in balancing Vata and Kapha.
Small warm linen bags, or boluses, are filled with a specially prepared mixture of herbs, rice cooked in milk and medicated oils. The boluses are then either applied to specific parts of the body, or to the whole body. Pinda Swedana helps with musculo-skeletal pain and inflammatory conditions.
Once toxins have been softened up and released by full body massage, and moved out of the tissues by heat treatment, elimination therapies such as Basti can be applied. Enemas help remove toxins from the body via the colon. The enemas we use are also designed to soothe and nourish the colon and intestines so that they can perform their functions more effectively. Besides removing toxic Ama, Basti treatment also eliminates excess Doshas and helps restore them to balance.
Maharishi AyurVeda offers a wide range of Bastis for conditions that affect different parts of the body. The herbalised oils used in the Bastis help balance the area they are applied to. The oils also penetrate through the skin and draw out toxins that have accumulated in that area.
This profoundly relaxing treatment usually follows on from Abhyanga massage. During Shirodhara, a stream of herbalised oil is slowly and evenly poured over the forehead to promote a deep state of healing. Shirodhara is particularly balancing to a sub-dosha of Vata called Prana Vata, it calms an over-active mind and helps with insomnia, anxiety and depression.
Takradhara helps with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and psoriasis, as well as Pitta and Vata imbalances, particularly in the brain. Takradhara usually follows after a full oil massage using herbalised oils, to lubricate and soften cellular toxins. A cool herbalised liquid yoghurt is slowly poured onto the forehead. This therapy relaxes the nerves and is recommended for skin problems.
After a head massage, herbalised oil is applied within each ear. This treatment lubricates the delicate filaments of the ear canal. In the Ayurvedic tradition, Karna Purana is recommended to help calm the mind, sharpen the hearing, and remove impurities. It has been found to be useful for a range of ear conditions, including tinnitus.
This massage is designed to improve energy flow down the legs and through the feet towards the toes by clearing blocked channels (Shrotas and Nadis) and by stimulating vital energy points (Marmas). According to ancient AyurVeda texts, “Diseases do not go near one who massages his legs and feet from knee to toes before sleeping, just as snakes do not approach eagles.”
Enclosed in a dough ring, a soothing pool of oil is placed on the heart area. This treatment is recommended for physical conditions of the heart and emotional conditions, such as heartache, sadness and loss.
The lower back is close to the seat of Vata Dosha and problems in this area indicate Vata imbalances. Oil application is one of the best treatments for Vata and Kati Basti involves maintaining a pool of oil on the lower back within a dough ring. This treatment helps with a wide range of lower back problems.
In this treatment, herbalised oil is gently dripped onto the top of the head. Shiro Picchu helps to relieve stress, remove fatigue, enhance vitality, relieve insomnia, and calm and balance the mind. In AyurVeda it has been traditionally used to help a wide range of mental conditions.
A pool of oil is held, using a dough ring, on the liver area. This helps cool any overheating or inflammation in the liver and helps remove accumulated toxins.
Janu basti helps strengthen and improve the functioning of the knee muscles and joints. It helps remove toxic Ama which can build up in the knee joints and cause problems.
Scientific Research
Scientific Research
Over 10 months, people who underwent various preventive methods of Maharishi AyurVeda, including 10 days of Panchakarma, showed an average 4.8 years reduction in biological age.
Within two weeks, overall cholesterol dropped from 203.5 mg% to 179.5 mg%, while LDL-cholesterol fell by 8.7%, in
130 people undergoing Panchakarma.
58% of pesticides and herbicides, which typically stay in the body for 25 years, are eliminated after 12 days of Panchakarma.
For further information on scientific research on Maharishi AyurVeda, please click on the link below –